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The legacy of the Harlem Renaissance is still alive and well in Harlem. To this day, the neighborhood stands as an epicenter for Black culture, music and history. Landmarks including the Apollo Theater and Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture have stood the test of time and continue to inspire. Alongside them is an array of restaurants, bars and cultural hubs that speak to the area's past and present.
Looking to plan your visit? Here's how to spend a day in Black-owned Harlem:
Get a midmorning coffee, and then some at The Oma, Shop II Coffee+ Lifestyle
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Coffee and life’s comforts come together at The Oma. Both of Lizzy Okpo’s Harlem-based shops have coffee on order. In addition, The Oma Shop I (1707 Amsterdam Avenue) houses home goods while The Oma Shop II (2754 Frederick Douglass Boulevard), features wine with snacks and a hairdressing and braid studio that doubles as a DJ booth. There are plenty of seats near the rear of the space, ready for a mid-morning work session or a quiet place to nosh on their menu of citrus salads and tin fish platters.
Tour the local art scene with the Harlem Arts Stroll
With a coffee in hand, now is the time to take in the culture. Luckily, Harlem Arts Stroll has done the hefty lifting for you. The guided art walk has curated several galleries, art spaces and organizations across the neighborhood, from 99th Street to 155th Street, for your viewing pleasure. Held on select Fridays and Saturdays, the walk starts at Refettorio. There, you can find a map of all participating locations. If you aren't in the area on those days, feel free to use their listings as a guide and pop inside the ArtfullWalls Fine Art Gallery, Apollo’s Victoria Theater Gallery and Kente Royal Gallery, to name a few.
Brunch it up at Melba’s
There is a ton of soul food found in Harlem, and Melba’s is one of the finest. For more than 20 years, Melba Wilson’s restaurant has replenished us with Jumbo Lump Crab cakes and fried catfish (or fried chicken) over buttermilk waffles and her signature strawberry butter. Any time of day, Melba’s is a vibe, setting the stage for birthday celebrations or a much-needed hang with your best crew. You may note that each table goes miraculously silent when the food arrives, signaling a job well done.
Take in the culture at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Part of the New York Public Library, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture was founded in 1925, during the peak of the Harlem Renaissance. This year, the storied institution is turning 100 and is celebrating in a big way. To mark the momentous year, the research library is hosting intimate conversations, screenings and exhibitions throughout the year.
A casual lunch calls for a visit to Harlem Shake
Sometimes, a burger just hits the spot, and one of the best burgers can be found right in Harlem. The retro-fitted diner is known for the Harlem Classic, a two beef patty burger sandwiched between a buttered and toasted Martin’s Potato Roll with a swirl of special sauce. The burger will run you about $9, so make it a meal with fries ($4) and add on their Red Velvet shake for good measure ($7).
Shop, shop, shop
Looking to support local, Black-owned businesses? In Harlem, all you have to do is turn your head. Pop into NiLu for candles and perfumes to books and prints. Find your new favorite fit from the fashion boutique Harlem Haberdashery or at the Harlem Underground. And if you’ve got children in tow, take them to Grandma's Place, a book and toy store that has entertained little ones for over two decades.
Dine on a selection of Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine at Massawa
One of the very first Eritrean and Ethiopian restaurants to open in the U.S., Massawa is still going strong three-plus decades in the biz later. Start with an order of Ful, a flavorful blend of pureed fava beans before diving into Shiro (split peas) or the Tebsi, a sirloin sauteed in a onions, tomatoes and berbere sauce.
Need little somethin’ sweet? Get a scoop at Sugar Hill Creamery
Petrushka Bazin Larsen and Nick Larsen’s family-owned shop is ingrained in the history of Harlem. Inside the Lenox shop hangs a picture of Thomforde’s, one of the area's most beloved ice cream shops of the 1900s. Together, the couple carry on the joys of ice cream, handmaking dairy and dairy-free scoops that speak to the neighborhood they call home. Take the ASAP Rocky Road named after the Harlem-born rapper or the Drink ‘Em Bot Up inspired by bottles of coquito. And if you need something to warm you up in the colder months, their ultimate hot chocolate is here to beat that chill.
Catch a jazz show at Minton’s Playhouse
If the walls could talk at Minton’s, they’d probably scat. Some of the greats have passed through the doors of Minton’s Playhouse, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie being among them. The jazz scene is still alive and well within, so buy a ticket or prepare to pay a cover at the door.
Nightcap at Harlem Hops
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Back in 2018, Kevin Bradford, Kim Harris and Stacey Lee were simply looking for a place to have good beer. So, they decided to make their own. Together they created Harlem Hops, Harlem’s first Black-owned craft beer bar. On tap, you can find local beers from all across NYC as well as bottles from POC-owned businesses from around the country. Pull up a stool at the bar or find a spot in the brick-heavy lounge to discover something new.
For even more to do, here’s how to spend a day in Black-owned Bedford-Stuyvesant